A Person Who Has Made Some Contribution to Mathematics Essay

A Person Who Has Made Some Contribution to Mathematics - Essay Example Moreover, a large number of the discoveries made by these prominent mathematicians have a basis in the medicine, technologies, and science that are currently common place (Hazewinkel 8). All in all, there are some recognized individuals who have made significant contributions to mathematics and their names cannot be disregarded. One of these significant people is Pythagoras. This paper will look at Pythagoras as an individual who has made a significant contribution to the field of mathematics. Pythagoras made leading contributions to religious and philosophical teachings in the final period of the 6th century BC. Pythagoras is frequently venerated as a great mystic, mathematician, and scientist. Also, he is largely associated with the Pythagorean Theorem which was named after him. Nevertheless, because obfuscation and legend obscure his work even more than that of the other philosophers who existed during the pre-Socratic period, individuals are only compelled to only provide specula tive accounts of his instructions, and a number of people have questioned if made much contribution to natural philosophy and mathematics. It may be argued that a large composition of the achievements credited to Pythagoras may in reality have been achievements of his successors and colleagues. In addition, whether or not his followers believed that everything was connected to mathematics and that numbers were the definitive reality is not known. It has also been asserted that Pythagoras was the first person to refer to himself as a philosopher. A philosopher refers to an individual who loves wisdom. It has also been argued that his notions employed a marked inspiration on Plato, and through him, the entire philosophy in the West. Additionally, Pythagoras was very properly educated (Malone 22). He was also inspired by several philosophers while he was a child. The most significant philosophers who inspired him include Thales and Pherekydes. Thales was the one who introduced him to m athematical concepts. Pythagoras became interested in cosmology, astronomy, and math because of Thales. Pythagoras was fascinated by all concepts of mathematics. Pythagoras was captivated by numbers and the concept of numbers. He developed a theory which asserted that every relation would be decreased to some form of number. In addition, he developed a theory on scales and ratios being created with the reverberation of vibrating strings. His ideas made a tremendous contribution to the music theory. Moreover, Pythagoras researched numerous different forms of numbers, for example, perfect squares, odd numbers, and triangles. He supposed that every number was unique and different and contained its own individual characteristic. For instance, it may be argued that ten is the most suitable number because it has four successive integers, that is, 1+2+3+4=10. However, the most tremendous contribution made by Pythagoras to the field of mathematics in the current period is Pythagoras theorem . Pythagoras has always been given credit for developing the Pythagoras theorem since the 4th century AD. The Pythagoras theorem is a theorem in geometry which explains that in all right-angled triangles the area of the square on the side opposite the right angle is equivalent to the aggregate of the squares of the other two sides. While the Pythagoras theorem was previously known and employed by the Indians and Babylonians, he or his apprentices, are frequently said to have developed the foremost evidence (Hermann 76). Nonetheless, it should be emphasized that the manner in which the Indians and Babylonians dealt with Pythagorean numbers indicates that they were aware that the idea was, in general, valid, and

BUSINESS ETHICS Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

BUSINESS ETHICS - Essay Example Management for business and economics should come from both aspects of â€Å"external† and â€Å"internal.† From external aspects as in terms of political force, legal directives, sociocultural practices and education. From internal aspects as in terms of positive faith and conduct of business companies and people, self-regulation of business unions, etc. The external aspect alone cannot accomplish this direction because it requires the inner responsibility of business nor is the internal aspect adequate because business, like any societal group, is only a sole element of society and needs supplementary external management and guidance. Nonetheless, the internal aspect is becoming more significant as the economic players have the benefit of more autonomy and thus abide by more accountability. In this period of fast globalisation and secularisation, where authority is moving away from its conventional hub in the West, the world will be inestimably poorer, more unsafe, and more brittle and most of all, more directionless —lacking the essential sense of rationale to help direct its voyage — if it is with no strong religious aspect. Given the tremendous challenges of globalization and secularization, it appears definitively prudent to place the religious approaches to business ethics into the global framework. This sets far above the ground standards, of which, until at present, the realistic and theoretical accomplishments of business ethics have fallen noticeably undersized. Business is component of the societal order. Its prime rationale is to fulfill material and human needs by manufacturing and dispensing goods and services in a proficient style. How this function is carried out the ways as well as the closing stages is central to the entire society. Along with the development in material wealth in the business world, there is rising in some sectors a value system which is damaging to the healthy development of human

Criminology 1 question future crime Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Criminology 1 question future crime - Essay Example However, contrary to the thought that development would also make man wiser, it becomes clear that man is losing his insight of moral values. This fact is evident from the ever increasing crime rates all over the world. Man has proved to be capable of committing heinous crimes that are beyond the understanding of certain individuals. What one cannot even imagine, the other is capable of executing, this emphasizes the fact that every man is different from the other. With the advent of the computer age, criminal activity has escalated to another level. In the past, various crimes known to exist were those such as theft, homicide, human trafficking, child and women abuse, juvenile delinquency and so on. However, now with the invention of internet, computer and such other electronic devices, people have left the realm of real world. Whatever they do now, it is always encompassed within the digital world. Therefore, there emerges a whole new possibility of crimes in the modern day as well as in the future. Since the emergence of internet, various crimes have started taking toll on unaware victims and these crimes are known as cyber crime. Therefore, it can be said that future crimes will definitely be directed towards the digital world. The different types of crimes in this field are insider crime, hacking, spam, fraud, cyber terrorism, drug trafficking â€Å"telecommunications fraud, online pedophilia, high-tech espionage† etc (Hagan, 2011). Though the present data provides an insight into the trends of crime to a certain extent, â€Å"they are limited in forecasting crime† (Schafer, 2007). However, various researches and studies based on criminology as well as the modern lifestyles have led to different predictions of future crimes. It is predicted that â€Å"illegal marketing of human parts† will increase substantially, â€Å"employee computer crime† will be on the rise with

Applied Strategic Management Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Applied Strategic Management - Case Study Example However, the nature of their work and the type of organization they work for will determine how these common environmental factors are perceived - whether they are seen as positive or negative, threats or opportunities (Yvonne 15). Strategy is the most exciting part of manager's work in an organization because it gives the chance to put all his new skills to work. Strategic thinking involves a comprehensive analysis of a business in relation to its industry, its competitors, and the business environment in both the short- and the long-term. Ultimately, strategy is a company's plan to achieve its goals. Corporate managements often do not know clearly what they want or how they'll get there. Organizational strategy is about the effective processing, interpretation of, and response to, information both inside and outside the organization. Organizational strategy helps in bringing administrative efficiency and inculcate within element of success through several ways. Managers should keep informed about important factors and developments in both their external and internal environments. They can do this by constantly 'scanning' their environment, which is, by establishing and maintaining a network of contacts, maintaining good communication channels, keeping up-to-date in their field and monitoring important issues and activities. This proposal is going to provide a case strategic company analysis on The Body Shop. The focus of the report is to show strategic analysis of the company and the environment around it that influences the organization. An assessment of the organization's existing strategies and impact of the external environment with recommendations to improve will also be included 2. Introduction of selected organization: The Body Shop The Body Shop is an international public limited company and was founded in United Kingdom in 1976 by Dame Anita Roddick. The Body Shop is part of the L'Oreal family which is their parent company. Today the company has 2100 stores in 54 countries with a range of over 1200 products all animal cruelty free and many with fairly traded natural ingredients (Thebodyshopinternational.com) 3. Marketing Environment The Body Shop works in a clean environment where they have managed to keep their competitive edge. They work is a diverse environment and they also aim to encourage a healthy environment in the world by working against torture of any kind to humans and animals. Marketing activities are influenced by several factors inside and outside the business firm. These factors or forces influencing marketing decision-making are collectively called marketing environment. It comprises all these factors, which have san impact on market and marketing

Critical Analysis of the Nature of Gender Differences in Communication Essay

Critical Analysis of the Nature of Gender Differences in Communication - Essay Example In addition, the way that men and women adapt to others whose communication methods are different in order to achieve their communication goals. One non-verbal element of communication that can often be seen is the concept of confirmation. This is the process of acknowledge that someone exists and that the communicator is aware of that existence. This is often achieved by the nod of the head, a handshake, smile, or eye contact. A verbal indication of confirmation is a greeting such as a simple â€Å"hello†. This type of communication demonstrates respect and is often used as an attempt to gain trust from another person. We can see how men and women respond differently to this type of communication by looking at the first scene of the Modern Family episode. The theme of the situation comedy is that the family supports the other members even when they don’t agree on the actions of the family member, and even if they don’t believe that an endeavor will work. They co mmunicate their support in a secondary way through nonverbal cues as well as verbal advice. The characters in the family represent the stereotypical characters for the most part, but three members of the family stand out from the rest. There are two gay guys and a Latin Woman present in the show, who has a son with Jay in the show. Gloria, the Latina, has a thick Spanish accent and dresses like a Flamenco dancer almost, she is the prototype of a hot Latin woman, wearing bold colors and low cut dresses with high heels. Since the essay is about the difference between men and women and how they communicate, parts of the essay will focus on how she communicates in certain situations with her husband and other men. When Claire sees Dwayne, the town councilman standing outside a grocery store campaigning for reelection, she calls him â€Å"jerk† and â€Å"phony† in a low voice to her husband because Dwayne did not accept her proposal to put in a stop sign on her street. On t he other hand, the councilman who is running for office shows a big sign of the element of confirmation by warmly saying hello and shaking the husbands hand and asking for his vote. The husband immediately responds with eye contact and a smile saying that he will vote for the man. Meanwhile, Claire keeps reverting her glance away from the councilman, and indicator that men are more straightforward when communicating in person, while women are more self-aware. When Claire finally introduces herself, she announces that they have met before implying that the man should remember the encounter. After a few seconds, the man does remember and once again refutes her original request, keeping a smile on his face the entire time as if smiling is all it will take to win him the election. The man fails to acknowledge her request, responding that everyone asks for the same thing, but that’s not really what people want. This frustrates Claire even more and as she walks away, the issue for her is clearly not solved and her trust in the councilman has diminished even further. This is a great example of how men and women respond differently to confirmation efforts in communication. For the husband, the nonverbal cues were enough to satisfy him and increase his faith in the councilman, but for Claire, the use of non-verbal cues and the lack of verbal confirmation only served to lessen her faith in the coun

Philosophy and Socrates Essay Example for Free

Philosophy and Socrates Essay SOCRATES THE PHILOSOPHER Socrates is a noteworthy and important historical figure as a philosopher, because of his and his pupils influence on the development of the philosophical world. His teachings, famous arguments, and ideas began the outgrowth of all later western philosophies. Born in 469 BC just outside of Athens, Socrates was brought up properly, and thoroughly educated. He was raised as most Athenians; developing both physical and mental strengths. Socrates then went on to learn from Archelaus the philosopher. Here he studied astronomy, mathematics, and was introduced to philosophy, which was a new concept at the time. Archelaus taught of explanations for the world with a scientific approach. Socrates, however, turned away from this idea and created his own. He decided that instead of trying to understand the universe, a person should try to understand himself. To express his philosophy, Socrates spent his days in the marketplace of Athens, telling people of his ideas. His voice was heard, and he was soon declared to be the wisest of all men. Socrates was skilled in the art of arguing. He developed a method by which he would win every debate. His favorite hobby was going to the marketplace and debating philosophical issues with other men in front of an audience. The result of these debates was that Socrates embarrassed the wise men in front of the crowd. This caused many to dislike him. After being named the wisest man, Socrates attempted to prove that this was not true. He debated with many men in the streets. These debates are some of his most famous argument methods. He started the discussion by stating that he knew nothing. As a result of the debate, he was able to prove that although his opponents claimed that they were wise, they knew nothing either. Socrates concluded that he really was the wisest man because unlike the others, he knew that he knew nothing. Socrates had many ideas and philosophies concerning issues other than the knowledge of oneself. These included explanations of the universe, the belief in god, and lifes goals. Other, earlier philosophers, had many different interpretation for the makeup of the world. Some believed that it was made out of numbers, others thought that it was made of a single substance, or many different substances, while still conflicting philosophers theorized that everything was formed out of atoms, and even illusions. Socrates had his own, different ideas. He believed that the world was made of forms that are not within the reach of our senses, but only of our thoughts. This means, for example, that when we think of characteristics such as roundness, we only picture ideas of it like a ball or a wheel. Therefore, he assumed that we only understand specific things that participate in our lives. In his search for the inner truth of oneself, Socrates theorized the explanation to the question of what the goals of life are. He concluded that everyone tries to find the meaning of happiness and goodness in their existence. This is the purpose of life. However, true happiness comes in many forms and is disguised in a way that people spend their lives looking for goodness, but finding only the evil in which it is concealed. The only way to discover true happiness, goodness, and the right way, is to fully understand oneself. Socrates did not believe in the Greek gods or religion. He had his personal view of god. Socrates felt that there must be some form of divine power because everyone seemed to believe in some kind of god and religion. He also believed in a sort of immortality. He hypothesized that there was an afterlife. His explanation for it was that people who had achieved goodness in their lives knew where they were going afterwards, and that evil people tried to ignore the fact that immortality existed. He preached that the soul was a persons true being, and that our goodness in life reflected on the goodness of our souls. According to Socrates, each individual should try to make his soul as moral as possible so that it can be like god, which will allow the achievement of an afterlife. Debating in the marketplace of Athens was not Socrates only daily activity. He also taught his philosophies to a group of students in a small classroom. These students were much like disciples. They respected and followed in the philosophies of their teacher. Socrates most famous pupil, Plato, went on to become a great philosopher like his mentor. Socrates lived through and fought in the Peloponnesian War. After Athens defeat, the democracy was replaced by a tyranny. This did not bother Socrates much because his belief in government was a rather simple and apathetic one. He thought that no matter what kind of government subsists; it should be followed solely because a form of law and order must exist in a society to control it. One of the tyrannys leaders was a former pupil of Socrates and hated his teacher. He tried to make life harder for Socrates by banning the t eaching of philosophy in the streets. Socrates ignored him. In response to this, the tyrant tried to kill Socrates; but the tyranny was overthrown right on time to prevent this. A new democratic government came into power, the leader of which, Anytus, also hated Socrates because his son, who was the philosophers pupil, turned away from the familys business to become a philosopher. Anytus had Socrates arrested on charges of corrupting Athens young and turning them away from Paganism, the Greek religion involving a belief in many gods. Anytus announced the death penalty as a punishment for this crime. It was obviously an outrageous sentence for a crime that was not even committed. Socrates was brought before a jury and instead of using his debating skills to defend himself, he did nothing in his own defense because he was convinced that the entire trial was a joke. The jury voted on the death penalty. Now Socrates had a chance to appeal to the court. He was entitled to suggest forms of punishment other than death to satisfy his crime. Instead of proposing a reasonable penalty, Socrates suggested ridiculous ones which angered the jury; causing them to vote on the death penalty once again. Socrates did not seem to mind at all. He was sent to prison and lived their surrounded by his friends and disciples for his last few days. His life ended by drinking hemlock as his friends cried at his bedside. Only after this scandalous death, did all of Greece realize what they had done; that they had killed one of the greatest philosophers of all time. Socrates life achievements were vast. He introduced new ideas and theories into the philosophical world. His pupil, Plato, went on to influence all of the western worlds philosophical development. Socrates began the evolution of philosophy throughout the world. He took the first step toward advancing modern philosophy, as we know it. His theories and ideas were a whole new concept that helped progress the western philosophy through all of later history. In conclusion, Socrates historical importance is great, due to his extreme influence on the evolution of the worlds ideas of philosophy. Even though Socrates never made written records of his work, his finest and most successful pupil, Plato, recorded much of his teachers accomplishments and deeds. From these history has learned so much as to be able to advance and heighten its entire philosophical viewpoints; and until this day, learn from the ancient philosopher, Socrates. INTERVEIW WITH A PHILOSOPHER: Mark ? Socrates, you were raised and educated in many different fields, why did you decide to spend your life as a philosopher? Socrates ? It is true that I have been educated in the arts, literature, and gymnastics as a youth; but in my continuing education as you may already know, I was taught by Anaxagoras, the famous early philosopher. His theories were not ones with which I would agree; such as those stating that all things were made of tiny substances which contained a little of everything, that the sun was a hot rock, and that the moon was made of earth. For these teachings, he was banished from Athens. Nevertheless, he was a good teacher and allowed me to realize that my philosophies were going to be antiscientific and quite different from his. My following philosophical teacher was Archelaus, with whom I studied mathematics, astronomy, and philosophy. I knew that my opinions and theories were strong, I had performing and arguing skills, and my ideas would consist of principles rather than sciences. The simple lifestyle of the philosopher appeals to me. I enjoyed the unusual behaviors that I associated myself with. All that really interested me was the great mysteries of philosophy, and the questions of knowing oneself, which I devoted my life to learning and teaching. Mark ? Your teaching was remarkable and much can be learned from studying it even after your death; why is that you never bothered to record your works for later generations? Socrates ? Many have asked this before and for quite obvious reasons. Most other noteworthy historical figures did keep a record of their works ever since the invention of written language, yet not one of mine exists in writing. I do not exactly know the reason for this. Whether there are records of my work or not, does not matter. I will forever be remembered by my loyal pupils, the Athenian population, and the world. Furthermore, nothing I ever said was of too great importance. And to tell you the truth, I never really wanted to take the time to keep useless records. That nonsense did not concern me nearly as much as most of my other problems as a philosopher. I had to make money somehow, to support my wife and three sons. As you might have guessed, being a philosopher does not exactly bring you riches. One of the reasons I began teaching was to make money. Also, I had to deal with many peoples constant hatred of me, mainly due to my victories in debates against them. Some, with high political positions, even wanted me dead at points of my life. And one even succeeded. So, you see, no matter how simple and easy going my life may seem, there are quite a few difficulties attached to it. Mark ? Your trial and death are quite interesting and famous historical events. They have been interpreted by many and confused some; what caused you to make such drastic and unusual decisions, the consequence of which you knew forehand? Socrates ? This I am aware of. As a matter of fact, some even claim that I was mentally ill, and blame that as the cause for my actions. This of course I deny. The truth includes a mixture between my philosophical beliefs and the thoughts that have occurred to me during my last days. I always believed that there is an after-life. And that must have somehow influenced my decisions. Even though the religious part of this came to me only afterwards. At first many others and I thought that this ridiculous trial was an obvious hoax. Who would have thought that such a crime, which I was evidently not guilty of, be punished by the death penalty. I fooled with the court. They on the other hand were quite serious about it. In the last days, I realized that there was no way out. True I could have argued with the court and won. I could have escaped using the plan devised by my dear friends. But since there was a high-ranking leader who wanted me dead, it was going to happen no matter what. Furthermore, my governmental beliefs stand true in all situations; the law should be followed and that is all. There was not much I was willing to do. After some thinking, I decided to go along with the law, after all, I had lived a happy life. One that I was proud of living, no matter how unusual it may appear to others. I was an old man of seventy. I found and understood myself, and had achieved happiness and goodness. There was nothing more that I desired. I knew what was waiting for me after death and was ready for it. Word Count: 2066.

The Death With Dignity Act

The Death With Dignity Act Although the Death with Dignity Act empowers individuals to control the timing of their death, physician assisted suicide still remains a controversial topic in todays society that raises many ethical questions. These questions include: Who is the true owner of our lives? Should relieving suffering always be the highest priority or does suffering occur for a reason? Is suicide a purely individual choice (Mathes, 2004)? The answers to the above questions are subjective, yet healthcare workers deal with the difficult issues associated with end-of-life care on a daily basis. Since patients and families frequently ask nurses to provide information about support in dying, it is important for nurses to thoroughly understand the topic of physician assisted suicide regardless of whether it is legally permitted within the State where they are working (Ersek, 2004). The purpose of this paper is to describe benefits and disadvantages of assisted suicide and to discuss the ethical reasoning behind both of these opposing viewpoints. Throughout the literature, there are many arguments that support the prohibition of physician assisted suicide. One of the most obvious arguments is that health care providers are supposed to save lives-not take them. (de Vocht Nyatanga, 2007). This principle of nonmaleficence can be traced back in time to Hippocrates, a Greek physician, who states this duty as I (healthcare provider) will use treatment to help the sick according to my ability and judgment, but I will never use it to injure or wrong them (Beauchamp Childress, 2009, p. 149). In other words, this statement can be interpreted as do no harm. The American NursesAssociation supports the notion that active participation in assisted suicide goes against the ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses (2001). Helping a client take their own life is not only in contrast with ethical traditions of nursing but it could also discourage clients from seeking out medical care due to fear (Ersek, 2004). In response, proponents for assisted suicide argue that it is well within the patients right to decide whether he or she lives or dies. Emphasizing the importance of the principle of autonomy, they feel that quality of life is a very personal opinion. By preventing clients from taking their life, they feel healthcare providers are being paternalistic and imposing their views onto their patients. Some also feel that it is pride, not altruism, which inhibits healthcare workers from supporting assisted suicide. They argue medical professionals do not like to admit that they cannot fix a situation, because it causes them to acknowledge their own limitations and evokes a feeling of failure. (de Vocht et al, 2007). Another reason many dislike physician assisted suicide is their belief that it might eventually lead to involuntary euthanasia. This slippery slope conjecture is based on the idea that small steps will eventually lead to an inevitable chain of events that cannot be stopped once started. This notion is supported by statistics gathered from the Netherlands that state roughly 1,000 patients die due to the result of an end-of-life decision made without their explicit consent (Dieterle, 2007, p. 129). Therefore advocates of this theory feel that the best way to prevent the establishment of involuntary euthanasia is by barring assisted suicide. In contrast, supporters of physician assisted suicide feel that the slippery slope argument is an exaggeration. Since the passage of the Death with Dignity Act in Oregon, involuntary euthanasia is far from being a reality of the status quo in the United States. This is a living example that demonstrates assisted suicide can be passed without spirali ng out of control. Therefore support of the slippery slope argument is closed minded and shows little faith in human nature (Dieterle, 2007). However, the possibility that patients might be coerced into participating in assisted suicide against their will is very concerning to many people. Opponents to legalizing assisted suicide fear that patients could be persuaded by their family or insurance companies into requesting support in dying. A specific concern exists for vulnerable populations which include the elderly, poor, and minorities. These groups of people may be easily manipulated and lack the means to defend themselves. In summation, it is very possible that abuses of law could occur (Dieterle, 2007). The argument also exists that legalizing assisted suicide would make it easier to regulate these practices. One result of not legalizing assisted suicide could be that people might utilize the euthanasia underground as a source of relief. These people are very determined to die and may go to other countries or fall back on illegal methods to reach their goal. This not only makes it hard to control what is happening, but some people are also dying in ways that they do not prefer (de Vocht et al, 2007). Since assisted suicide is a complex issue, many feel that forming comprehensive legislation that is safe is an impossible task. The current Death with Dignity Act uses many terms which are subjective. For example, there is no definite way to determine the exact time and date when a person will die. Therefore the 6-month prognosis is not reliable even if it is agreed upon by two different physicians. In addition, mistakes in assisted suicide are permanent and cannot be corrected (Gannon Garland, 2008). Conversely, assisted suicide supporters argue physicians are already familiar with facilitating the death of their patients. Currently, In all 50 states in the US, patients have the right to refuse treatment and be allowed to die. Furthermore, all 50 states have procedures in place for allowing substituted judgments for the refusal of treatment (Dieterle, 2007, p. 132). Although end-of-life issues are complex, legal support for physicians comfortable with this process should continue. Another argument against assisted suicide is that it could encourage people to give up and take the easy way out. By allowing a person to take their life when they feel hopeless, it might give off the wrong impression to the public that when life becomes hard it is acceptable to quit. (Dieterle, 2007). Instead of focusing on ending life, emphasis should be put on how to enhance palliative care. On the contrary, proponents for assisted suicide argue that the people who are requesting it are not hopeless and depressed. The clients who utilize the Death with Dignity Act in Oregon, Linda Ganzini states, are not so much depressed as determined (Schwartz Estrin, as cited in Dieterle, 2007, p. 134). Ironically, these people say that assisted suicide actually instills hope in people because they feel they have a way of controlling their life if it becomes too unbearable. Conclusion While there many arguments for and against assisted suicide, the answer to the question of whether it is right or wrong remains ambiguous. One reason for the lack of clear cut answers is that assisted suicide is an ethical issue which is dependent on a persons values, morals, religion, and experiences. In general, the topic of end-of-life decision making is very sensitive and evokes strong emotions and opinions. Instead of debating the issues involved with assisted suicide, this paper merely describes pertinent arguments that have been presented by both sides. There are many nursing implications that are associated with assisted suicide. Among these is the importance for nurses to be aware of their own beliefs about end-of-life care. Selfawareness will prepare nurses for obstacles they will face when dealing with death. Another implication is that nurses need to be cognizant of politics and legal authority. Becoming active in political processes, nurses can work to ensure that they w ill not be forced into doing procedures that come in direct conflict with their beliefs. Writing this paper has taught me that autonomy is a very controversial issue in the health profession. I have also learned that there is a fine line between being a patient advocate and acting paternalistically. There is also a very fine line between providing a patient with information and influencing their decision making process. I plan to use this knowledge in my practice by being aware of my own biases and respecting the beliefs of my patients. I have come to the conclusion that facing ethical issues is inevitable part of a nurses professional practice.